Courtesy Martin & MacArthur
Jon Martin, founder of Martin & MacArthur, will be signing and inscribing koa furniture during a Founder's Event through Sept. 21 at the Kahai Street showroom.

Koa furniture maker holding Founder’s Event

Martin & MacArthur, well known for its koa furniture, is holding a Founder's Event through Sept. 21, honoring founder Jon Martin, 71. Martin started the company in 1961. He will be at M & M's 1815 Kahai St. showroom throughout the event, signing and inscribing all furniture pieces purchased. Some pieces have been reduced up to 50 percent. Martin and his team have created more than 150 pieces of koa furniture for the event. The Clef Bench has been brought back into production and is a highlight. The bench was inspired by a design created by Hawaiian furniture maker Henry Weeks, Jr., over 100 years ago and was given to Queen Liliuokalani during her reign. The curvature of the back is reminiscent of the G clef at the beginning of a musical staff to indicate the pitch of the notes. The queen's original bench is on display at Washington Place ...

Peter Cetera will open the Toyota Pops season with Matt Catingub and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra Friday and next Saturday nights at 8 in the Blaisdell Concert Hall. This is Matt's 10th year as pops conductor. Cetera was lead singer and bassist for the group Chicago ... Pianist Andre Watts, after receiving the Halekulani's inaugural Lifetime Achievement Legend Award at the hotel Sept. 5, praised the talent of the symphony and the leadership of conductor Andreas Delfs and said he respected the community support for the orchestra. The award was presented by Peter Shaindlin, Halekulani Corp. COO. The hotel is title sponsor of the Halekulani Masterworks Series. Watts kicked off the season last Saturday ...

Peter J. Dietrich and Jon Kobashigawa, managers at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Waikiki, were hoping Craig Schulman, Cris Groenendaal and Kevin Gray, the "Three Phantoms," would sing for their suppers when they came in with a group for dinner Sunday. They didn't, but they will be singing tonight at 7:30 and tomorrow afternoon at 2 at the Hawaii Theatre ...

Paddle surfing cruised into the CBS Nightly News Monday, showing Laird Hamilton paddling with his young daughter standing with him on his board and then giving CBS' Sandra Hughes instruction when she decided to give it a go at Malibu, Calif. Sandra looked a bit shaky, but did OK paddling around until a slight swell came along and she tumbled in. Laird, a surfing great, was shown paddle surfing on huge waves. Another surfing star, Kelly Slater, also was in the segment, saying he's opposed to it because it will attract amateurs creating crowded, dangerous conditions for them and others ...

Former Police Chief Lee Donohue's Kick Start Karate fundraiser Aug. 31 at the Bayer Estate topped its $40,000 goal, raising $43,000. The program is geared to keep at-risk youngsters on the right path ... High fives for singer Augie Rey, who fired his first hole-in-one recently on the 185-yard 8th hole on the Ko Olina Golf Club course. The club's G.M., Greg Nichols, says the 8th is the toughest on the course. Augie was playing with his son, Joe, and Cecilio Rodriguez of C&K fame when he scored the ace using a 7 iron ...

Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things Wednesdays and Saturdays. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com

Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin in the streets of downtown Honolulu during World War II, writes of people, places and things in our Hawaii. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com